Hello once again, friends and family!
I know it's been awhile since I created a post in my blog, and I'm sure plenty has happened in your lives as it has in mine. In my last semester of college, I have an internship within my respiratory therapy program that is sending me all over Missouri to work at different hospitals. And believe it or not, I'm engaged! God has brought this great man named Tim into my life, and He's showing us how to give and take and how to plan our futures together (a cutie, right?).
As far as ministry goes, God has blessed me with a wonderful campus ministry called Asian Christian Fellowship, which has become like a family to me. I have been a co-leader for a women's small group, which has grown my love for younger women and challenged me in serving in a new setting. This funny first picture is most of us in our weekly Large Group meeting.
Many students in our ministry are international, and it's been very exciting for me to learn about cultures different from mine, such as Korean, Taiwanese, and Japanese. Furthermore, I've learned how Jesus can be personal to anyone, able to show His love and transforming power through any language and upbringing. I have grown more than I could have imagined in a desire to show my culturally-different friends who our Jesus is!
In the picture below, we went to the Dwell conference during the fall semester. It was awesome that my sister Rebekah (behind me) came and that 4 of the friends in our group put their faith in Christ!
Another cool thing I must mention is that I have become pretty involved in the Indian population on campus. With some new friends who called themselves the Dashing Desis (Desi means "Indian" in Hindi), I practiced a routine for India Night 2013. We were actually the final act, and it was probably the most fun I had all semester.
Finally, the news I've been waiting to share......
I'm going to Honduras again!
I feel so blessed to return to people I love in Choluteca, Honduras this March! At first, I was torn in deciding whether or not to go on this week-long trip, since I had before thought that when I returned, I would want to stay long enough to actually work at the daycare or maybe teach English classes. But with what I'm facing in life right now, like graduating and marriage (still sounds a bit crazy!), I realized how important it is for me to go back now while I can.
My reason for going back is two-fold: I have personally seen how rampant issues like child malnutrition and broken families can be restored when people of different cultures agree together in prayer and decide to go out of their comfort zones to put their faith into action. Our team will focus mainly
on building homes, among helping at the daycare where I worked and the orphanage. I want to continue to be a part of this change and be a help to the other students on our trip by my familiarity with Honduran life.
I also long to reunite with some dear friends and my church community in Choluteca. It's like what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." I'm very excited to see what God has been doing in their lives and to bring them some encouragement through myself and our team in coming.
I also long to reunite with some dear friends and my church community in Choluteca. It's like what Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:8 "We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us." I'm very excited to see what God has been doing in their lives and to bring them some encouragement through myself and our team in coming.
As a graduation gift, my family is willing to fund 2/3 of the approximate $1800 cost for the trip. That means if only 20 people supported me with $30, I would reach my goal!
Honestly, the point of me creating this blog post is because you are someone significant in my life, and I want to share with you what I've been up to and how God has been challenging and growing me. If in fact you are inclined to support me on my final mission trip as a student, please fill out the response card, also shown below. Unfortunately, we have no option for online giving for this trip. You can print out the card, and either I can pick it up from you in the KC or Columbia area, or you can mail it to 2416 East 110th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64131. Please make checks out to GCLA and return by February 19, 2014.
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How you can pray for me:
Prayers are the most important part of this trip!- This semester has been for me a hard transition away from my community back in Columbia. These verses have really helped me: John 15:2 "...while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful," and Psalm 119:54 "Your decrees are the theme of my song wherever I lodge." Please pray that I would grow in my devotion to God in this very transitive time of my life.
- Please pray that our team would be good teammates and be able to give and receive love well.
- Please pray for me and Tim as we work on the wedding and makings for us once I graduate.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING ALL THIS! May God bless you richly and show you His steadfast love.
En Jesucristo,
Sarah Elizabeth Emerick
(If you'd like to see a cool, oldies-kinda video of a Honduras mission trip, watch below!)
